Inflated ball



' I. I. TUBBS INFLATED BALL Get. 1, 1929.

Filed Sept. 22, 1924 "Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IRA m1. TUIBBS, on summon, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR on ONE-HALF T GEORGE n. MILLER, 0F MENOMINEE, WISCONSIN INFLATED BALL Application filed September 22, 1924. 'Serial No. 739,127.

My invention relates to inflatable playing or sport balls of the type provided with a cover of leather or other flexible material j which is inflatable and defiatable through the medium of a bladder positioned within the cover. Balls of this type may be used for playing basket ball, football, water polo and many other games, and may also be used as punching bags. The invention isconcerned with improvements appertaining to the bladder inflation instrumentalities of such balls.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for mounting the bladder with-- in the cover with the air inlet of the bladder communicating with an opening in the cover so that the bladder can be inflated or air letout .or more air applied,all from the outside of the ball without it being necessary to interfere in any way with the opening through which the bladder is inserted within the cover. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a ball which will be regular in form and elasticity so that pressure applied to any part will produce exactly the same reaction.

The present invention provides a ball so constructed and arranged that its bladder may be inflated by a suitable pump such as a bicycle p'ump applied to and through the ball cover at a point preferably spaced from the bladder-insertion opening of the cover; the bladder being provided with a stem through which it is inflated, this stem being readily attachable to and detachable from a covercarried holding-device when the bladder is deflated, but being securely retained in cooperating relationship with the holding-device when the bladder is inflated. The holding-device, its construction, its relationship to the cover, and its relationship to and cooperation with the stem of the bladder are salient features of the present invention.

The ball shown in the accompanying drawings also includes a novel lacing for closing the bladder-insertion opening of the cover, a lacing which may or may not be employed in balls provided with the improvements herein claimed. Such lacing is described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,664,336, dated March 27, 1928.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of, a ball look ing at the side having the inlet opening formed therein.

Figure 2' is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the ball with the bladder deflated and the inlet opening spread for insertion or removal of such bladder. i

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken alongthe line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1 with the bladder in place but not inflated.

My improved playing ball is provided with a cover 1 formed of leather or any other suitable material and if desired formed in a number of sections stitched together after the manner usually employed in constructing basket balls, punching bags, foot "balls or other balls of similar construction. This cover is' provided with a bladder insertion opening 2 in the form of an elongated slit which when in the closed position will appear as shown in Fig. 1, but which may be spread to an open position as shown in Fig. 3. A small aperture 3 is formed in the cover to one side of the opening-2 and registers with the internally threaded neck 4 of the socket plate 5 at the inner face of the cover. This plate 5 is provided with a covering 6 formed of any suitablamaterial such as thin leather or a suitable fabric, the covering 6 serving to prevent chafing of a bladderplaced within the cover. A cushion 5' preferably. of rubber, may be inserted between the socket plate and the cover. The purpose of this cushion is to absorb the jar when the part of the cover directly at the outside of the socket plate comes in contact with the floor or other surface. Were the leather cover of the ball directly in contact with the socket plate, there would be more of a shock and a greater sound and the ball would not bounce as well.- The bladder 7 is inserted within the cover through the ladder insertion Opening 2 and is provided with a threaded valve stem 8 which may be screwed up into the neck4 as shown in Fig. 5. The detail of the interior construction of the valved stem is not shown since this is similar to, the construction of a valve-controlled inlet used in connection with an inner tube of a tire.

I being Flaps 9 have been shown secured to the inner side of the cover 1 atopposite edges of the opening 2 and other flaps 9' are secured to said inner side of the cover in outwardly spaced relation with said flaps 9, all of the flaps extending toward the openin 2. Any

or all of these flaps may be formed y folding a strip of leatheror the like upon itself and stitching its edges to the cover 1, the flaps 9 shown of this form. while the flaps 9 are illustrated merely in the form of strips stitched at one edge of the cover. Strips or lacings 10. extend across the opening 2 and are slidably connected to the flaps 9 and 9". These strips or lacin s are of such length that when the bladder is inflated, the portions of the cover upon opposite sides of the opening will be; drawn toward each other and into edge contacts as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to entirely close the opening 2 with the flaps and strips positioned in close contact with the inner face of the cover. Any irregularity in the length of the strips or lacings 10 will be equalized by sliding at the flap connection. In the construction shown,

the flaps 9 and 9' are formed with spaced eyelets and there are two lacingsfllO inter lacedwith these eyelets, each lacing connecting the flap 9 at one edge of the opening 2, with the flap 9' at the other edge of said opening.

When the ball is to be inflated, the threaded can be employed to inflate the bladder. When the bladder-is inflated, it is expanded and as it expands it will distend the cover and 'through engagement with the flaps 9' cause the strips orlacings 10vto be drawn upon, which in turn will draw upon the flaps 9 and draw-the cover to entirely close the opening 2. It will thus be seenthat the greater the air pressure, the greater will be the pull applied to the strips or lacings 10 and the tighter the openin will be held-in a closed position. s It will urther benoted that the covering 6 will prevent chafing vwhich might tend to wear the bladder and also that the air can be readily let out or the pressure regarded as a composite holding-device secured to the inner face of the cover for cooperation with the threaded stem of the bladden As shown in the drawings, this composite holding-device is of substantial thickness at its central portion. where it receives the bladder-stem 8; the thickness of the holdingdevice decreasing from its central portion toward its margins. It is desirable that the holding-device be of substantial thickness at its central portion so that the bladder stem may have adequate threaded engagement with the plate 5, while terminating a substantial distance short of the exterior of the ball cover. By having the thickness of the holding-device decrease from its central portion to its margins, I prevent undue'chafing of those parts of the bladder which must yield inwardly to accommodate the holding-device when the ball is 'inflated.

The screwsthread connection between the cover-carried holding-device and the stem of the bladder has a number of important advantages. The bladder stem may be very readily attached to and detached from the holding-device, when the ball is deflated, simply by inserting a hand through the slit 2 and turning the stem into or out of the neck 4 of the plate 5,an. operation which may be accomplished by the exercise of the sense of touch alone and without any necessity for seeing the bladder stem 8 orthe plate 5, which of course are concealed or substantially concealed by the cover andthe hand while being thus manipulated into or out of cooperating engagement. But when the bladder is inflated tightly into engagement with the inner surface of the coverthe stem 8 cannot turn to work itself out of threaded engagement with the plate 5. Nevertheless, due to their threaded engagement, the stem 8 and the plate 5 may turn slightly one within the other during inflation. This ability of the stem and holding-device to turn slightly one within the other is of value in that it prevents the bladder from being inflated with the bladder in abnormal twisted condition.

The screw-thread connection between the bladder stem and the cover-carried holdingdevice is also advantageous because very strong and at the same time occupying less space than-any other form of connection with which I am familiar. o The small inflation aperture 3 in the cover, 1t will be noted, is substantially the diameter more delicate valve mechanism should the ball in play strike a hard object, and to provide proper protection against injury to those handling the ball from either the valve stem'or its holding member 5. In fact, in practice and as shown, I prefer to make the diameter of the aperture 3 somewhat less than the outer diameter of the stem 8.

By mounting the nut member or internally threaded neck 4 ofthe socket plate fixedly on the inside of the cover proper, I secure a dependableanchorage for the stem 8. Thus, in inflating or re-inflating, it is unnecessary to reposition the stem by manipulation through the insertion openin 2 because the bladder stem, evenwhen the ladder is deflated, will retain its proper relation to the inflation aperture 3. ,Not only does the stem-holding device fixed on the inside of the cover retain the stem in registry with the inflation aperture through the cover, but it also holds the stem up against the cover and against inward movement, thereby facilitating the attachment of a-pump to the stem.

I claim: 1 1. A ball of the character described comprising a cover of flexible material having an 7,

elongated slit formed therein and having an openin to one side of the slit, a plate secured to the inner face of the cover and provided with a threaded opening registering with the opening of the cover, a protecting cover for 'said plate, a bladder inserted into the cover through the slit and having a threaded neck 1 the bladder is inflated.

2. An inflatable ball comprising a bladder having a threaded valve stem and a cover having an opening therein for the insertion of the bladder. an aperture in the cover spaced from said opening, a bladder stem supporting element secured to the inside of the cover opposite said aperture and carrying a separate internally threaded hollow sleeve for the reception of said threaded valve stem.

3. An inflatable ball comprising a bladde and a cover, an opening in said cover, a tubu; lar metallic'member connected to said cover and associated with said opening, a valve stem connected to said bladder and having a valve element therein, said bladder and said valve stem constituting a complete, separate inflatable unit, and means for detachably conn'ecting said valve stem to said tubular attaching member. 4:. An inflatable ball comprising a bladder and a cover, an opening in said cover, a tubular attaching member substantially registering with said opening, a flange projecting from said tubular attaching member, means for securing said flan e to said cover, a valve stem carried by said ladder having a valve element therein, said valve stem and bladder constitutin a separate inflatable unit, means for detacha ly connecting said valve stem to said tubular attaching member and yieldable material between said projecting flange and said bladder. Y

5. In an inflatable ball having an outer casing-and a bladder. a valve tube connected to said bladder, a valve therein, a-plate secured to said casing, and a screw thread connection between" said-valve tube and plate.

6. An inflatable-ball comprising a bladder having a threaded valve stem and a cover having an opening therein for the insertion of the bladder, an aperture in the cover spacedfrom said opening, a bladder stem supporting element secured to the inside of the cover opposite said aperture, said supporting element being internally screw-sleeved for the reception of said valve stem.

7. An'inflatable ball comprising a cover, a

separate bladder having an inflation'valve,

a: bladderinsert-ion opening in the cover, an aperture in the cover spaced from said opening for providing access from the exterior of the cover for inflation of the bladder and means for detachably anchoring the bladder on the inside of the cover for communication with the valve through the aperture, comprising a. pair of cooperating inter-engaging securing members, one carried by the bladder and the other fixed on the cover in association with the aperture.

8. An inflatable ball comprising a cover a separate bladder having an inflation valve, a bladder insertion opening in the cover, an aperture in the cover spaced from said opening for providing access from theexterlor of the cover vfor inflation of the bladder and means for detachably anchoring the bladder on the inside of the cover for communication with the valve through the aperture, comprising a pair of cooperating inter-engaging securing members, one carried by the bladder and the other carriedton the inside of 'thecover in communication with the aperture and fixed against lateral and inward displacement relative thereto.

9. The combination with an inflatable ball comprising-a leather cover having a bladder insertion opening and a separate rubber bladder having a valve, of means for detachably anchoring the bladder on the inside of the cover to provide access to the bladder valve,

for inflation of the bladder after insertion of the bladder in the cover and the closing of the insertion opening, said means comprlsing a protruding externally threaded stem on the bladder communicating with the valve, an

; inflatienaperture through the cover of substantially the diameter of the stem spaced from the insertion opening, and a nut member fixedly secured on the insideofthe cover in registry with the aperture, the parts being arranged to provide for the manual manipulation of the bladder from the interior of'the cover to screw the stem into the nut member.

10. An inflatable ball comprising a cover, a removable bladder carrying an inflation valve and means for detachably anchoring the bladder against the inside of an integral portion of the cover to provide access from the exterior of the cover for its inflation, said anchoring means comprising a protruding exeternally threaded stem on the bladder communicating with the valve, a nut member held on the inside of the cover, and an aperture through-said portion of the cover in substanthe nut member and secured tothe inside of the casing at a plurality of sides of the aperture to fix the nut member on the inside of the cover against lateral displacement and in registry with the aperture, wherebythe bladder may be manipulated from the inside of the cover to anchor the bladder by its stem to the nut member to provide access for the inflation of the bladder after the bladder insertion opening is closed.

12. An inflatable ball comprising a cover having a bladderinsertion opening, abladder carrying a protruding valved inflation stem, an inflation aperture through the cover of substantially the diameter of the stem, a stemholding device comprisin a rigid coupling portion for detachably anc oring the stem by inter-engagement therewith, and a flexible cushioning patch portion embracing the coupling portion, with the latter fixed against the .1115 the aperture and held against lateral and inward displacement therefrom.

- 13. An inflatable ball comprising a leather cover, a rubber bladder, an opening in the 4 cover for the insertion of the bladder a closure device for said opening, a metallic stem containing a valve member and extending artly into the bladder and protruding part y therefrom with an externally threade portion, the bladder, stem and valve comprismg a separate removable unit, an inflation aperture in the cover, spaced from the bladder e of the cover in substantial registry with 7 insertion opening, of a diameter substantially that of the valve stem, a metallic nut member for engagement with the threaded portion of the stem, a laminated patch member embrac-' ing the nut member and secured to the cover at a plurality of sides ofthe aperture for fixedly retaining the nut member on the in-.

side of the cover in substantial registry with f the aperture, the patch member comprising cushioning layers between the metallic mem her and the bladder and also between the metallic member and the cover, the combined patch member and nut member being of greatest thickness at the aperture and tapering to lesser thickness at the margin of the patch member, the bladder with its stem being manually manipulable from the inside of the cover for enga ing or disengaging the stem and the nut mem er, and the end of the protruding stem, when positioned in the nut member,

being protected by the marginal portion of the cover surrounding the aperture.

14. An inflatable ball comprising a bladder and a cover, a stem-holding device carried on the inside of an integral portion of the cover, said stem-holding device being of composite construction including a metal member and a cushioning'member interposed between the cover and said metal member, a passage through said holding device provided with internal screw threads formed on said metal member, an openin in the cover in alignmentwith the passage t rough said stem-holding;

device, and'an externally threaded valve stem for said bladderdetachably screwed into the aforesaid passage of the stem-holding-device and terminating short of the exterior of the ball cover. I

15. An inflatableball comprising a bladder and a cover, a stem-holding device carried on the'inside ofan integral portion of the cover,

I said stemeholding devicebeing of composite construction including a metal member and an anti-chafing member of flexible material overlying the inside surface of saidmetal member, a passage through said holding device provided with internal screw threads formed on said metal member, an opening in the cover in alignment with the passage through said stem-holding device, and an externally threaded valve stem for said bladderdetachably screwed into the aforesaid pas- I sage of the stem-holding device and terminating short of the exterior of the ball cover;

' 16. An inflatable ball comprising-a cover and a removable bladder, an inflation stem carried by the bladder, and a stem-holding device carrled on the inside of an integral portion of the cover and provided with a passage leading to the exterior of'the cover, into which said stem may project, said stem and said holding device being, rotatable into and out of engagement w1th eachother when the bladder is de ated, said stem being of such length, in relatmn to and passage, that when'occupying said passage it terminates short of the exterior of the ball cover, said stem being held by the bladder against rotation out of engage-- ment with said holding device when the bladder is inflated.

17. An inflatable ball comprising a cover, a separate removable bladder having an inflation valve, means for anchoring the bladder upon the inside of the cover for its inflation kfrom the exterior of the cover, said anchoring means comprising a pair of cooperating interengaging detachable securing members, one carried by the bladder in communication with the interior thereof through the valve and the other fixed on the inside of the cover against lateral and inward displacement, and an inflation aperture through an integral portion of the cover in communication with the holding member on the cover for providing access from the exterior of the cover for in- :iliiaition of the bladder with an air pump or the 18. An inflatable ball comprising a leather cover, a removable bladder having a valve and a protruding hollow stem, an inflation aperture in the cover proper of substantially the diameter of the stem, and a securing member, for detachable cooperative inter-engaging securement with said stem, carried by the cover and positioned interiorly thereof in substantial registry with the aperture.

19. An inflatable ball comprising a bladder having a threaded inflation stem, a cover having an opening therein for the insertion of the bladder, an aperture in the cover spaced from said opening, and means secured to the inside of the cover, for detachably supporting the bladder and for aligning the stem With the aperture, comprising a threaded member for co-action with said threaded stem.

20. An inflatable ball comprising a cover, a separate removable bladder, a check valve for the bladder carried by the ball, an aperture through the cover providing access to the bladder for inflation thereof through the valve by an air pump or the like, and means for detachably anchoring the bladder at the inside of the cover against substantial lateral displacement relative to the aperture, comprising a set of cooperating securing members for'releasable inter-engagement, one carried by the bladder and another carried on the inside of the cover.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

. IRA IRL TUBBS. 

